Moby Dog

Adventures of Wishbone #10

by Alexander Steele, Herman Melville (Original story), Rick Duffield

Only Wishbone, a hero with a courageous canine heart and four mighty sea legs can conquer the great white whale in this quest inspired by Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Original.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Mystery, Kids

143 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like usual for this series, this novel is a great retelling of a classic novel that parallels a modern-day story. The writing was wonderful, as well.

However, I am going to throw my copy of this book into the recycling bin.

Why would I, a bibliophile and a library employee, do that to any piece of literature, let alone a Wishbone novel?

Simple: I bought my copy of this book at a thrift store, and not only is it in bad shape, but a previous owner doodled obscene graffiti on the last page. I don't want any other readers, especially not any kids, to come across that...so, I'm tossing my copy. Maybe someday, I'll find another one in pristine condition; one can only hope.

EDIT: I was able to find a digital scan of this book via the Internet Archive; thankfully, it didn't have any graffiti. Since I'm not shopping at garage sales or thrift stores anymore due to accumulating too much clutter in my room, I hope I won't have an experience like the incident mentioned above ever again.

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is leaps and bounds better than its source material. Thinking about what this book is based on just makes me angry. Here it is made palatable by cutting out all the boring stuff, boiling down the good parts, then adding the cuteness of Wishbone narrating. TH1 said she liked it but couldn't name anything in particular she liked or disliked. We did talk a little about how things might have gone if Joe had been nice from the start and making assumptions about people so that was also good.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute book paralleling Wishbone's adventures with his buddy Joe with that of Ishmael in Moby Dick. In the present, Joe's basketball is stolen by a big blond athlete and Joe and Wishbone give chase. Wishbone also imagines himself as Ishmael, becoming friends with Queequeg and other men from many lands, alternately fascinated and horrified by Captain Ahab, and excited by whale hunting. Sadly, all except Ishmael drown as Moby Dick defends himself against the whalers. In the present, Richard Everson, the basketball stealer, rescues Wishbone as he struggles in a duck pond, while he's trying to rescue the basketball that Richard tossed there. Joe and Richard end of playing basketball together and Wishbone feels loved.

[Ashlea Marshall]

I enjoyed reading this book to my boys. It's one of the first chapter books I read as a kid.

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely 13/10 the best book i have ever read. a classic tale twisted to fit the perfect YA reader.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little story to capture the imagination of children who are in between transitional books and heavy chapter books. Wishbone's insistence on piping in his two cents to every conversation is a little annoying, but the action is brisk and plentiful, sure to keep reluctant readers looking for more.

[Madelyn Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

My book group's theme for the month of June was to read "a re-telling of a classic." Having never read Moby Dick, I went with Moby Dog instead! A fast, engrossing story; I can see where this series would appeal to younger boys.

[Noelle Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good. Based off "Moby Dick" this Wishbone book has made me interested in reading the classic. Definitely worth reading!